Saint Agatha c. 17th century

Editor: Here we have Jacques Callot’s “Saint Agatha,” a small etching. It’s rather graphic, depicting torture. What symbols do you see at play here? Curator: Agatha, a virgin martyr, endured horrific mutilation for her faith. Callot condenses centuries of hagiography into this single image. Notice the leering torturer. Doesn’t his flamboyant costume seem almost… theatrical? Editor: It does! Theatrical, but gruesome. And the city in the background? Curator: That signifies her Sicilian home, adding a layer of historical specificity. The very act of creating this image, etching it into copper, mirrors the inscription of her story onto the cultural memory. Editor: So, it's not just a depiction, but a kind of… remembrance? Curator: Precisely. It reminds us of the power of images to carry the weight of history and faith. Editor: I see so many layers now that I didn’t notice at first glance. Curator: Indeed, these images speak volumes if we learn to listen.